By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The French Basketball Federation announced Tuesday that Axel Toupane will travel across the Atlantic Ocean accepting an invitation by the Golden State Warriors to take part in the training camp scheduled to begin on December 1 instead of remaining with the national team and playing in the approaching FIBA international window featuring the next batch of EuroBasket qualifiers.
“Since the end of the last season my goal is to return to the NBA,” said Toupane, a former player of the Denver Nuggets, Milwaukee Bucks, and New Orleans Pelicans, “I know that if I am in shape and with my experience, I have a real chance. I know the players better, I know my game better, I am overall better suited than three years ago.”
Toupane, 28, made his way to 25 NBA games stretched through the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons. He since returned to Europe and the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague joining Zalgiris Kaunas and Olympiacos, before moving on to Unicaja Malaga.
He started the current season at SIG Strasbourg, but a groin injury cut short his return to his first professional club. Recovering allowed him to initially join the France national team preparing for the games versus Great Britain on November 27 and Germany on November 29 to be held in the bubble set up in Pau.
Yakuba Ouattara of Coosur Real Betis was called up to replace him in the Vincent Collet squad.